Locking device for automobiles



March 3l, 1925.

J. M. WHITE LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTQIOBILES Filed Jan. 10. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 31,l 1925.

UNiTED-sTATEs PATENT ori-ica JESSE-M. WHITE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAN11A,l

LOCKING :DEVICEv FOR AUTOMOBILES.

application filed January 10, 1921@ serial no. 436,077.

connection for use particularly in connection purpose Vof prevcutf with automobiles for the ing they theft thereof. Y Y Y Another object is to include in the device of my present invention means which, when moved into a certain position, will'efteet the locking of the automobile against movement in one direction but which will permit the automobile to be moved in a rearward direction in case it is necessary to bodily move the same in case of tire in a building or the like in front of which the automobile is parked; such requirement being in accordance with the law in many citiesespecially in the congested districts.

A further object is'to make my improved device of a simple construction and design which can be quickly and easily manipulated and operated by an authorized person.

A still further object is t0 construct my improved device in such manner that it will be practically impossible' for a thief to unlock the same. f Y l These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described -hereinafteryl attain in the following'v manner, reference be# ing had to the accompanying drawings in which'- Y f I l Figure 1 is an end eleva-tion oi' my improved locking device shown partly insec- L tion and with the guard cover removed,

`Figure 2 is a'sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Figure l, Y Y f 'Y F'gure 3 is a transverse sectional plan view taken onthe line 3&3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken o the line 1r-#tof Figure 1, Y Figure 5 isk a side elevationof 'my improved `device withV the-guard cover removed, I Y

Figure -6 is' a fragmentary' elevation ot said device with the guard cover in place,'

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of a part ofthe direct locking means which forms va part 'of my invention,

Figure 8 is a view' of the same general character as that shown in Figure 1 showing the parts arranged to lock the automobile against movement in a forward direction but which will permit the automobile to' be moved in a rearward direction,

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 oi Figure'S,

Figure 10 is a view of the same general character to that shown in Figure 8 showing the direct locking means moved into a position to lock the automobile against move- Vment in either direction,

Figure 11 is a fragmentarysection taken on the line 11-11 of Figure *10, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure Referring to the f drawings, 11 represents the transmission casing of an automobile and 12 is the transmission shaft.v I form one vend 18 of said transmission casing 11 with a cavity 14; said transmission or drive shaft extending through said end into said cavity and having secured thereon 'a wheel 15 which has teeth 16 in its peripheral surface; said teeth being tapered outwardly in cross section and providing inwardly tapering` notches 17. The inner surface 18 of the wheel 15 is spaced from the inner wall 19 of the cavity 14; to provide a chamber 2O for a purpose hereinafter described. The wheel 15v has holes 21 which, as shown in `Figure 5, permit bolts 22 to be inserted therethrough for a purpose of attaching a flange'23 of the universal jointy for a driven shaft 24;; said driven shaft serving asa. continuation rof the drive shaft to' transmit power in the usual manner to the driving wheels of the automobile. VThe bolts 22 at one' end have lie-ads which are located adjacent the uniyversal joint and at their opposite ends are provided with nuts 25 which serve tosecure the `fla-nge 23 tothe wheel 15; said nuts 25 f being positioned within the chamber 2O.` The bolts 227 being arranged annularly, may be' readily tightened or removed when the wheel 15 is capable of being freely turned.

lilowever,Y as will hereinafter bedescribed,

when the wheel 15 is locked against rotation it` will be practicallyimpoSSible to detach the nuts 25 which'are adjacent the rear of the v cavity viewed fromFigure 5; it being noted that there is an entrance space 27 leading bolt nuts near said entrance. If desired a guard cover can be attached as shown in Figure 6 to close the entrance space and exposed part of the wheel 15.

rlhe end 13 of the transmission casing has an integral extension 2S at one side; said extension having a downwardly extending bore 29, the lower' part of which communicates with the side of the cavity 14 so that a portion of the teeth 16 of the wheel 15 extends into the bore 29 between its ends. A member 30 rotatably fits the bore 29 and has its lower end 81 resting on the bottom portion 32 of the extension 29; there being a part 33 of the member 30 of reduced diameter which extends outwardly through a hole 34 and is screw threaded at 35 to receive a nut 36 so as to normally hold the member 30 in place within the bore when the parts are unlocked as will be more fully understood from the following description.

It will be understood, however, that the lnut 3G performs no necessary function to prevent the removal of the member 3() when f the device is in any of its locked posit-ions.

The member 30 at a position within its length directly opposite any portion of the wheel which projects into the bore 29 has a number of integrally formed teeth 37 which are arranged at spaced relation within the length of the member said teeth in cross section being substantially similar to the shape of the cross section of the notches 17 in the wheel 15 so that by partway turning the member 30, as for example from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 10, the teeth 37 will enter the adjacent notches 17 of the wheel 15.

As shown in Figure 11 it willbe noted that the teeth 37 are curved in cross section and only extend throughout a portion of the circumference ofthe member SO. Furthermore it will be noted that the opposite ends 3" of the teeth 37, as shown in Figure 117 gradually become narrower until they strike the body or core portion 3S of the member 30. These ends of the teeth 37 form a pilot for leading the teeth 37 into the spaces between the teeth of the wheel 15. The core portion 38 is dished out or cut away by the surface 39 so as to clear the teeth 16 of the wheel 15 when the member 30 is rota-ted into either of the positions shown in Figures 1 and 8; this surface 39 being arcuate and being made to a radius greater than the radius of the wheel 15.

The member 30 has a groove or channel 40 cut therein so as to extend vertical; said groove stopping abruptly at its lower end to provide a shoulder 41. A bolt 42 slidably fits within said groove 40 and is conlined between the walls of said groove and the portion 48 of the wall which provides said bore 29. The lower portion ,of the groove lcommunicates with the cavity 14 when the member 30 is moved into the position shown in Figure S. The lower end of the bolt 42 has a tooth 44 which will more into one of the notches 17 of the wheel 15 when the member 30 is moved into said latter mentioned position such for example as shown in Figure 8. Then in this latter position, the bolt 42 will prevent the wheel 15 from moving contra-clockwise as viewed from Figure 8 but will permit said wheel to move clockwise; this arrangement being obvious for the reason that the bolt 42 cannot move downward beyond the shoulder 41 but may move upward so that the wheel 15 in moving clockwise will keep pushing the bolt upwardly and this clockwise movementof the wheel is the movement which the lwheel will assume during backward movement of the automobile. From the construction as illustrated it will be noted that the member 3() can be moved into three principal positions. First, it can be moved into the position so that the surface 39 of the core portion 38 will provide a clearance for the teeth of the wheel 15 as shown in Fig ure 1 or it can be moved with the teeth 37 entering the notches 17 of the wheel 15 so as to lock the wheel 15 against movement in either direction or it can be moved with the tooth 44 of the bolt 42 entering one of the notches of the wheel 15 so as to permit the wheel 15 to rotate in one direction or to be locked against rotation in the opposite direction.

The member 30 can be locked in any one of said positions or can be unlocked so as to permit the turning into any one of said positions by means of the following mechanism. Adjacent the top the member 30 has three holes 45-which extend radially substantially at 12()o apart as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 9. These holes during the rotation of the member 3() by means of a knobhandle top 46 can be moved into register with any one of three recesses 47 in the top portion of the extension 2S of the casing.

A key-operated selective lock 48 is mounted in the knob handle 4G and may be of the pin type which includes a spindle 49 which can be rotated when the proper key is inserted and turned within the lock. A cylinder 5() is rotatably mounted within a. cavity adjacent the top of the member 30; said cylinder having three holes 51 which are radially disposed at substantially 120 apart and are capa-ble when the cylinder 5() is turned through the medium of the spindle 59 and key to register and communicate with any of the holes 45 in the member 30.

Metallic balls 52 are arranged to occupy spaces so as to have portions in the holes 45; said balls being of such size that their diameters are greater than the lengths of Cil the holes 45 so that a portion of the balls must also extend either into the Vrecesses 47 in the casingV extension 28 Vor into the holes l in the cylinder 50. Y. Thus it is obvious that the cylinder 50 is turned by the proper key Within the lock 48 so las to move the holes 51-out of register with ,the holesV 45, the outer surface of the cylinder will `push the balls 52 so that a portion of said balls will project into the recesses 47 and thereby lockfthe member 30 againstmovement relatively to the casing extension 28. lf, on the other hand, the cylinder 50 is moved through the medium of the loci; key so that the holes 5lV will register with the holes 45, the member dcanbe rotated by a person grasping the knob 'handle 46; said extension 28 preferably being of such height. that the Vkno-lo handle will be positionedabove the floor `of the automobile which is indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 53 in Figure 8. i

It is important that the driver should beable to readily ascertain, at" any time, which of its three positionsy relatively to Wheel the rotatable locking member then occupies, and that means should be provided for automatically arresting the [rotation of locking member when it reaches half lock, lock or no lock position-` `For these 'purposes I provide the .casing extension 28 with a transverse bore 54 in which is mounted .a ball 55, backed by a spr-ing 56 and a plug 57 screwed into the bore, and provide locking member with #three depres sions 58 prefenably frustoronicah into which the spring maypnesstheball.' vllhese depressions :are so .positioned that kthe bal-l. will take into one depressi-on when member ,30 reachesilts locking position,

another depressionwhen said member .30

reaches positionV for halt lock, .and into the third recess ywhen member 30 reaches its position for no lock.' If member 3() 1s 1n its inactive position, .a pamtial rotation will bring it to half-look position :and the ball Will'yieldingly earnest the rotation at the' precise ,point required for the half lock. The driver may' then vturn cylinder 50 to lock member 30 in` that position, (or he 'may co-Tftinue the rotation` another .step :and the rotation Will again befmested when locking.l position is reached; The spring-pressed ballacts primarily as a position finder and the drivers sense of touch informs him when member 30 is in one of its three required positions. By placing markings upon knob handle 46 to indicate the three positions, the driver may ascertain, at a glance, the exact condition of the locking mechanism. Thesemarkings maybe conveniently placed upon at parts 59 Vof the knob handle.

As Previously stated, the nut 36 is not necessary as means for preventing` the removalk Ving the cylinder until the holes 51 regis ter with the holes 45, after which the nut 56 can be removed and .the bottom of Athe member 30 is provided With an additional ycut-out portion 160 such as shown in FigV ures l and said cut-ont part 60 permittingthe lowerend portion of ther member 30 to clear the teeth ofthe Wheel l5 `to .allor-v the removal of said member 30.

will `thus noted that my improved locking device is operative to` lock the drive shaft to the gear :casing and that xthe struc ture of the device is positive ink its action and suiicien-tly strong to hold the parts in their locked position.

lll/'hilo I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various partsxof my invention may be' changed Without departing' from them-spirit thenedff, and hence I do not limit myself tothe lrnecise .construction set forth, but consider that I aan at liberftyfto make such cla-,anges :and alterations as fairly come Within the scope of the appended claims.

v Having thus .described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y n l. The 'combination of a lcasing having a bore; .-afnotched wheel; a member rotatably mounted .in said bore and Vhaving a sectoral e toothed portion movable into engagement with the notches of'said wheel when said member is rotated, said member carrying .a s-lidab-le bolt movable when Ethe member is tur-ned into another position, tofengage with the notches of .the wheel to permit the Wheel to rotate `in one direction but to lock it against movement in an opposite direction;

and meansfor locking said member against' Y movement willen in either tot substantially .as described.

said positions; v

l 2.. The `combi-nation of -a casing yhaving .a

bore; a notched Wheel; a ,memberk rotatably mounted 1n said bore and havlng a sectoral toothed portion movable into engagement VWith the notches of said Wheel when said member is rotated, saidmember having a groove terminating at one end in a shoulder; Y

said bolt, when the wheel'is rotated in an opposite direction, being operative to slide in said groove ont of the path of the wheel; substantially as described.

3. The combination of a casing having a` bore; a notched wheel; a member rotatably litting said bore and having a portion movable, when the member is turned, to intercept said wheel and lock it against rotation in either direction; and a bolt carried by said member and being selectively movable, when said member is turned into mesh with the notches of said Wheel, said bolt being slidable in one direction by said wheel ont of its path when the wheel is turned in one direction, said bolt when the wheel is turned in an opposite direction, serving` to jam between the wheel and said member and thereby stop the movement of the wheel in said latter dire tion; substantially as described.

4L. The combination of a casing having a bore 5 a notched wheel; a member rotatably fitting said bore and having a portion movable, when the member is turned, to intercept said wheel and lock it against rotation in either direction; and a bolt carried by said member and being selectively movable, when said member is turned, into mesh with the notches of said wheel, said bolt being slidable in one direction by said wheel out of its path when the wheel is turned in one direction, said bolt when the wheel is turned in an opposite direction, serving to jam between the wheel and said member and thereby stop the movement ol the wheel in said latter direction, said member having a cut-out portion adapted to be turned, to the exclusion of said bolt and irst mentioned portion, into a 'position opposite but free of the wheel whereby the latten can turn in either direct-ion; substantially as described.

The combination of a casing havino` a bore; a driving member; a locking member rotatably itting said bore and movable into various positions to lock said driving member under different conditions, said second mentioned member having holes therein, said casing havingrecesses therein; balls adapted to lit in said holes so that some portions thereof will lit in said recesses and thereby lock the second mentioned member to said casing, said second mentioned member having a cylinder therein with holes movable into registry with said first mentioned holes; and a lock having a portion operative by selective means for turning said cylinder to effect registration of the holes therein with said first mentionedV holes whereby the balls can move out of said recesses and free said second mentioned member from the casing; substantially as described.

6. The combination of a casing having a bore and a cavity connnunicating with the bore within its length a notched wheel within said cavity; a member rotatably fitting said bore and having a cut-out portion normally clearing said wheel, said member having teeth operative whenA the member is turned to engage within the notches ot said wheel; a member carried by said iirst member and selectively moved into a position to engage the notches of said wheel, said second mentioned member, when the wheel moves in one direction, serving to iam between the wheel and said lirst member, said second mentioned member being movable out of the path of said Wheel when the latter moves in an opposite direction; and means for locking said first member in any of said positions; substantially as described.

7 In a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a casing having a bore; a driving shaft; a notched member lixed to the shaft; a locking member rotatably mounted in the bore of the casing and having a sectoral toothed part adapted to engage With the notched member and a cut away part adapted to clear the notched member; means for rotating the locking member, and means for locking it in or ont of engagement with the notched mom-` ber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ol" two subscribing witnesses.

JESSEE M. W H I rl E.

lVitnesses AUGUsTUs B. Gorras, ACHAs. E. Porre. 

